Hello everyone I've had anxiety disorder for the past off and on 20 years. It used to be where I was worried about my health all the time in my heart and I will call the doctors they would say nothing was wrong. Now I've been on an ALS or Lou Gehrig Kick. I have cramps off and on of my legs my limbs arms I wake up every morning I get myself worked in a panic. I've seen four doctors over this and they say I don't have als I'm getting a test done on April 6th to rule it out. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist on April 13th I do take klonopin have been taking Klonopin for the past 14 years it helps me some days for a couple hours in the past that used to help me and I had to really take it more often. I get tired easily and feel like my body isn't working which is why I have Als concerns. I'm constantly on Google looking up my symptoms.
Anxiety issues 44 yo female
- Thread starter Lmjw
- Start date
Hello,
I used to have the same issues as you but it was an obsession with cancer. I would wake up everyday and check my lymph nodes. Luckily I have been able to get this fear under control but occasionally I'll start to worry I am bipolar or that I have something other than GAD and I'll start looking up symptoms on Google.
You aren't alone with it. I try and limit myself from looking anything up and just schedule Dr appointments. I will second guess their diagnosis though so that doesn't even help.
Now I just recognize it as anxiety and wait for it to pass. Life feels meaningless when you are stuck in that way of thinking but it always gets better.
Just do what you know if right!
I used to have the same issues as you but it was an obsession with cancer. I would wake up everyday and check my lymph nodes. Luckily I have been able to get this fear under control but occasionally I'll start to worry I am bipolar or that I have something other than GAD and I'll start looking up symptoms on Google.
You aren't alone with it. I try and limit myself from looking anything up and just schedule Dr appointments. I will second guess their diagnosis though so that doesn't even help.
Now I just recognize it as anxiety and wait for it to pass. Life feels meaningless when you are stuck in that way of thinking but it always gets better.
Just do what you know if right!
Yea I currently don't worry about my physical health much just mental. But I feel like my anxiety overall has really improved.
My biggest hurdle now is dealing with setbacks after periods of being worry free. I am getting much calmer than I used to but it kinda makes the fall hurt way worse.
I truly believe we can all get better. We just have to believe in and find the best coping skills and life styles to fit our personalites. Perhaps we have to change our idea on what getting better and being normal means as well!
My biggest hurdle now is dealing with setbacks after periods of being worry free. I am getting much calmer than I used to but it kinda makes the fall hurt way worse.
I truly believe we can all get better. We just have to believe in and find the best coping skills and life styles to fit our personalites. Perhaps we have to change our idea on what getting better and being normal means as well!
That's what is making this si difficult because I didn't worry too much about my physical health for about 10 yrs then all of a sudden a month ago the Als fears showed up all it took was me going on Google to look up difficulties swallowing and now I'm having cramping weakness and all symptoms of als
Well if you went 10 years without worry then you obviously know how manage your anxiety very well! That's awesome! Just try and remember back to how you coped with it during the 10 years! You already have the tools you are just in a set back. You have gotten past it before so you will get past it again.
Its just anxiety in one of it's many disguises. Just try and stay off Google until you have your tests results back. It will only make things worse . If you have ALS all the Google searching in the world won't change it anyways. And even if you found a website that said "Lmjw you definitely do not have ALS" your anxiety would immediately say to you "how does this website know that? What if it lying?"
It's ok to be nervous until you get your test results back. I would be too. Allow yourself to be. Just do things at a pace that you are comfortable with you right now until this passes and stop putting pressure on yourself to feel right. Tell loved ones what's going on so that they know you may be a little slower at things than you usually would be. You don't have to tell them about all your worrying just that you have a symptoms and are getting a test done.
You have done all you can do to this point, now it's just the waiting... Given your age I am sure you are familiar with Tom Petty and his song says "the waiting is the hardest part". Put that song on and sit back and know your mind and body is following a natural sequence like everyone else's would in your situation.
Its just anxiety in one of it's many disguises. Just try and stay off Google until you have your tests results back. It will only make things worse . If you have ALS all the Google searching in the world won't change it anyways. And even if you found a website that said "Lmjw you definitely do not have ALS" your anxiety would immediately say to you "how does this website know that? What if it lying?"
It's ok to be nervous until you get your test results back. I would be too. Allow yourself to be. Just do things at a pace that you are comfortable with you right now until this passes and stop putting pressure on yourself to feel right. Tell loved ones what's going on so that they know you may be a little slower at things than you usually would be. You don't have to tell them about all your worrying just that you have a symptoms and are getting a test done.
You have done all you can do to this point, now it's just the waiting... Given your age I am sure you are familiar with Tom Petty and his song says "the waiting is the hardest part". Put that song on and sit back and know your mind and body is following a natural sequence like everyone else's would in your situation.
guitarman65
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One thing that helps us anxiety sufferers, is knowing from having it for so long, it will get better. Agree with Brad about the Petty tune, i actually quoted the exact song in my "funk" post...and its true! Its very weird how we sufferers cannot realize the fact it will ease in "real time" it sometimes feels like the first time experiencing anxiety, even though some of us have had years of dealing with it! Anxiety is truly an evil process! As for the "health worry" part of it, i still overthink every issue whether physical or mental, but it seems less over the past few months. Googling symptoms of course doesn't help, but if u feel u have to...find some results that also support NOT having the issue that u are researching...they're there, we just dwell on the negative!
You are right about the waiting part. That's the worst for me now that I am 80. Before the tests came back normal, now there is always something that has to be done over or a biopsy or whatever and waiting is really anxiety time for me. I have had anxiety all of my adult life so it isn't anything new but your mind plays tricks and makes you think there is something else wrong. You are not alone.